The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-05-14
For The UNIvERSALIST.
THE CONSTITUENCIES.
BY MARY C. BILLINGS.
CHAPTER 1.

CHAPTER 1.
When I made the acquaintance OF
Frank Carroll 1 soon came to love him as
a brother. This affection resulted in an
intimacy still unbroken through years Of
change and the forming OF new ties. [
had Just returned from HAVANA, where
for several years had practiced the
medical profession with Gas I have rea-
son to suppose) fair success. But this
unremitting devotion to the calling | had
chosen began to operate unfavorably
upon a constitution somewhat weakened
by the climate, until my judgment was
compelled to own that without change OF
air and at least one seasons rest from the
continuous strain, there was every prob
ability that complete prostration would
ensue; that in my enthusiastic efforts to
save the lives of others entrusted to my
cara I might sacrifice my own.
When first choosing the medical pro-
fession in preference to any other, l was
young aud enthusiastic and believed it
would furnish broader field Of useful
ness than any other. [ felt that in pur-
suing it as the business of life there
would be ample room for carrying out the
benevolent desires of beneftting human
ity which I cherished. 1t must be stated,
however, that I carried these ideas so
far that 1 thought more of aiding my
patients in regaining health than OF
taking care to preserve my own. As
might be supposed, nature would not
bear such an unreasonable tax upon her
forces without occasional circumstances,
and finding those unheeded, at last show
ed signs of open revolt.
Fortunately for me, at this juncture
there came an imperative summons to re-
turn to the States. The death of an uncle,
whose heir I had become, rendered it
necessary for me to start Immediately to
be in time to attend to the business con-
nected with this new order of events and
to take possession of the waiting estate.
Had this not occurred, so strong was my
love for my work and SO pleasant the
connections into which had been drawn,
fear might still have remained upon
the Island, exchanging before long a
dwelling place there for another stage Of
existence.
y
The day was cold and dreary. A driz-
zllng rain and hail made the pavements
slippery -one of those disagreeble &C.
compartments of early spring in North
ern latitude. Landing in New York the
previous week, portion Of each day had
been spent with my late uncle's attorney.
Piles of documents were 20 be examined
and all the usual preliminary steps taken
before entering into possession of my new
estate, which, may add, proved to be
more valuable than 1 had supposed. Re
turning to the hotel that day, after one of
those visits to the lawyers Office, 1 found
a crowd collected about the steps, and as
I entered encountered two men carrying
some one mp stairs who had been injured
by fell on the icy pavement below.
Happening at the door thus opportunely
my services were called into requisition.
1t was not long before had the satisfac-
ton of seeing my stranger patient return
to consciousness. As it appeared, he had
tainted from the effect of g severe con-
fusion on his head, which struck the edge
Of one Of the stone steps in his fall. An
examination Of the case revealed a seri-
Gus fracture of the right arm, besides
several minor injuries in the way Of
sprains and bruises. In few hours he
was made as comfortable as could have
been expected under the circumstances.
And this was my first Introduction to
Frank Carroll, as noble a fellow as ever
made the cause of human rights his own.
In less than a week the symptoms of
fever abated and left him prepared to
endure his temporary confinement as con
tentedly as could be expected in one Of
his mercurial temperament. His room
adioinad mine, aud as had nothing more
pressing on my time than to visit Mr..
the white haired advocate, l
was at liberty TO devote special attention
to my fellow boarder and patient. Mr..
by the way, was an interesting
study, with his quiet, gentlemanly air and
industry and patience. To
my limited legal knowledge it was marvel
BUS to note his sagacity in tracing out the